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Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I (T)

Rifle No.4 Mk I (T) Sniper

sniperRoyal Ordnance Factories · 1942–1970

OVERVIEW

British sniper conversion of the No.4 rifle with selected actions and telescopic sight.

HISTORIAN'S COMMENTARY

Before the Storm

Introduced between 1942 and 1970, Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I (T) was built by Royal Ordnance Factories for United Kingdom forces as a sniper for total war armies.

In the Field

Chambered in .303 British (7.7x56mmR) and operating by bolt-action, it offered an effective reach of about 800 meters. Crews could sustain roughly 15 rounds per minute in trained hands, carried in a 4.8 kg frame with a 10-round magazine.

Historian's Note

In practice it became a weapon of patience, observation, and single decisive shots. Historians usually remember this type for extending lethal precision deeper into the battlefield than most contemporaries.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber.303 British (7.7x56mmR)
ActionBolt-action
Rate of Fire15 rpm
Muzzle Velocity744 m/s
Effective Range800 m
Magazine10 rounds
Weight4.8 kg
Length1130 mm

DEVELOPMENT

The No.4(T) was a carefully selected and converted sniper variant of the No.4 rifle with optical sighting and tuning. British conversion standards emphasized repeatable accuracy and field durability.

COMBAT HISTORY

It served Commonwealth snipers in Europe and other theaters, pairing solid accuracy with familiar Enfield handling. Units used it for harassment fire, observation support, and key-target engagement.

NOTABLE USES

  • [01]Commonwealth sniper detachments in Northwest Europe. - Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I (T) was used here in squad-level engagements where handling and immediate fire effect mattered.
  • [02]Long-range precision support during advance and defense. - This theater exposed how ammunition load, reliability, and training shaped real battlefield outcomes.
  • [03]Use alongside standard No.4 rifle logistics chains. - Field reports from this context show why sniper doctrine evolved during the war.

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